An Interview with Ian McWethy and Carrie McCrossen (Mascots)

This week on The Scene Podcast, we’re joined by the dynamic writing duo Carrie McCrossen and Ian McWethy, partners in both life and theatre. Known for their sharp wit and genre-blending scripts, the pair shares how their collaborative process evolved from comedy sketches to critically acclaimed plays. We talk about teaching theatre, navigating adaptations, and what it’s really like to co-write with your spouse. Plus, we debut a brand-new segment inspired by Letterboxd’s “Four Favorite Films”, but this time, it’s all about the plays that shaped us.

Episode Notes

Guests:

Carrie McCrossen – @carriemccrossen

Ian McWethy – @ianmcwethy

Release Date: May 17, 2025

Topics Covered:

• Writing as a duo: humor, compromise, and creative alignment
• Their approach to youth theatre and educational licensing
• Navigating tone in farce, satire, and social commentary
• Thoughts on adaptations and writing for the stage today
• Debut segment: “Four Favorite Plays”—inspiration, nostalgia, and chaos

Works Referenced:

• Bad Auditions by Bad Actors
• The Ten Best Worst Things About High School
• #Censored
• Plus, selections from their “Four Favorite Plays” list

Listen: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms

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The Scene Team

Justin Borak - Host 

Zach Dulli - Executive Producer 

KJ Lampar - Producer & Editor

Leah Barker - Producer & Talent Coordinator

Additional music and sound effects licensed through Envato Elements

LINKS

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SPECIAL THANKS

Jennifer Isaacson

Lauren Kardos

Kent Nicholson

Jeffery Keilholtz